Stable zeolite/cellulose composite materials and method of preparation

Abstract

Stable cellulosic fiber material for use in forming zeolite/cellulose composites is prepared by suspending loose cellulose fibers in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or sodium silicate, stirring the resulting suspension until it reaches a macroscopically homogenous appearance, heating the resulting mixture at a temperature of 323-423 K until only dry solids remain, contacting the resulting mixture with excess distilled water to remove physically adsorbed or trapped sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or sodium silicate from the fibers, and heating the resulting fiber material at 323-423 K to dry the fiber material. Stable zeolite/cellulose composite material characterized in that leaching of the zeolite phase does not occur upon contact of the composite with water at approximately 373 K comprises a zeolite and a stable cellulosic fiber prepared as described above, the composite material being formed by contacting a zeolite with the stable fiber material.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. The method of preparing stable cellulosic fiber material for use in forming zeolite/cellulose composites comprising the steps of: 
       (a) suspending loose cellulose fibers in an aqueous solution of a compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal hydroxides and silicates;  
       (b) stirring the resulting suspension until it reaches a macroscopically homogeneous appearance;  
       (c) heating the resulting mixture at a temperature of approximately 323-423 K until only dry solids remain;  
       (d) contacting the resulting mixture with excess distilled water to remove physically adsorbed or trapped compound of step (a) from said fibers; and  
       (e) heating the resulting fiber material at a temperature of approximately 323-423 K to dry said fiber material.  
     
     
       2. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the loose cellulose fibers used in step (a) have a lignin content of not more than approximately 0.1%. 
     
     
       3. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said compound in step (a) is sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
       4. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said compound in step (a) is potassium hydroxide. 
     
     
       5. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said compound in step (a) is sodium silicate. 
     
     
       6. The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said heating steps (c) and (e) are carried out at a temperature of approximately 373 K.